🦜 Red‑tailed Black Cockatoo 

The Red‑tailed Black Cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus banksii) is one of Australia’s most striking and charismatic parrots, a bird that seems to carry the drama of the outback in its plumage and voice. Large, powerful, and unmistakably regal, it commands attention whether perched quietly in eucalyptus branches or soaring across open woodland.

🌟 Overall Appearance

• Size & Build:   A robust, heavy‑bodied cockatoo, typically around 55–65 cm long. Its silhouette is broad‑winged with a long, rounded tail and a strong, curved bill built for cracking tough seeds.

• Plumage:   The species is predominantly velvety black, but the details vary dramatically between males and females.
  Males: Deep black feathers with a bold scarlet or orange‑red panel in the tail that flashes brilliantly in flight.
  Females: More intricately patterned, with golden speckling across the head, chest, and wings, and orange‑yellow barring in the tail. Their plumage has a warm, ember‑like glow.

• Crest:   A tall, expressive crest that rises when the bird is alert, curious, or communicating.

🌿 Habitat & Range

Red‑tailed Black Cockatoos inhabit a wide range of Australian landscapes:

• Eucalyptus forests

• Savannah woodlands

• Arid inland regions

• Coastal forests in some subspecies

They are highly dependent on mature trees for nesting, often requiring hollows that take decades to form.

🍽 Diet & Feeding Behavior

These cockatoos are specialized seed‑eaters with a powerful bill capable of cracking:

• Eucalyptus seeds

• Sheoak cones

• Banksia seeds

• Occasionally fruits and insect larvae

Their feeding style is deliberate and methodical, often leaving behind piles of chewed cones beneath favored trees.

🗣 Vocalizations & Behavior

Their call is a haunting, wailing cry, often described as mournful or flute‑like, carrying long distances across the landscape. Social and intelligent, they travel in small family groups or larger flocks, communicating constantly with soft chatter and loud contact calls.

🧠 Personality & Social Structure

Red‑tailed Black Cockatoos are known for:

• Strong pair bonds

• Cooperative parenting

• Playful curiosity

• High intelligence and problem‑solving ability

They are long‑lived birds with complex social interactions and a gentle, thoughtful demeanor.